Three people killed in crashes during Thanksgiving weekend

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports three people were killed in traffic crashes during the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday counting period (6 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 30), a significant decrease from the 11 fatalities recorded statewide in 2024. Preliminary 2025 statistics include 304 crashes, 82 injuries, and 87 DWI arrests—compared to 462 crashes, 158 injuries, and 106 DWI arrests investigated by troopers in 2024.

The three fatal crashes occurred as follows:

• November 27: A 40-year-old Branson woman, not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and killed after her vehicle ran off Missouri 135 in Cooper County.
• November 27: A 44-year-old Union woman, also not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and killed when her vehicle overturned on Interstate 29 in Atchison County.
• November 28: An 11-year-old O’Fallon girl, who was wearing a seat belt, died following a two-vehicle collision on Missouri 79 in St. Charles County after the northbound vehicle failed to yield while turning left.

No fatalities were reported on November 26, 29, or 30, and there were no boating crashes, drownings, or boating-while-intoxicated arrests during the period. These statistics are preliminary and subject to change.